Cam closure



Aug. 5, 1958 R. J. ELLINGEN CAM CLOSURE Filed Jan. 4. 1956 l N V EN TOR.

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United States Patent States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application January 4, 1956, Serial No. 557,425 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-55) into a sealed position by cam action. More specifically, the invention is considered to be an improvement over cam closures such as those disposed in the patents to Johnson, 2,329,716; Gardes, 2,364,206; Grice, 2,365,695; and Rau, 2,352,495.

In these patents, levers having depending hook-like cams are pivoted to a closure. With the closure loosely closing a container opening, swinging of the lever in one direction causes the cams to engage fixed cam lugs or anchors on the container. If movement of the lever in the same direction is continued, the cams force or draw the closure in sealing relationship with respect to the opening. As a general rule the cams and cam anchors are made of sheet metal which is relatively soft and readily deformable whereby they wear rapidly or become so damaged in use as to be incapable of forming a tight seal.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cam closure for a container.

A further object is to provide an improved closure of the class described which includes novel cam means for forcing the closure into sealing relation with the opening.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the device, the structure of the several elements comprising the same, combinations and sub-combinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of the invention showing the parts in the closed, sealing position;

Figure 2, is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view showing the parts in the closed but unsealed position;

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 but showing the parts in the open position; and

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planes of the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, designates a container wall having an opening 11 formed therethrough. Marginal portions 12 of the container wall are crimped outwardly over the flange 13 of a sput to provide a gasket seat. The neck 14 of the sput may be formed at the front with a forwardly extending pouring lip 15. The rear of the sput neck is cut, slotted and deformed to provide a pair of rearwardly extending hinge ears 16 which are spanned by a hinge pin 17. The opposite sides of the sput neck 14 are cut, slotted and bent to provide a pair of oppositely and radially outwardly extending cam lugs or cam anchors 18.

The closure according to the invention is generally designated by 20 and may comprise a top plate 21 having a looped rearward extension 22 which loosely encircles the 2,846,] 13 Patented Aug. p5

. 2 hinge pin 17 between the ears 16 so as 'to pivotally mouiit the closure. The underside of =the top plate 21'has: fixed thereto in any suitable manner a belI-Shaped spring'nieinher-'23 having a flared edge 25. A 1sea1ing .wa'sher*24"is secured to'the undersurfa'c'e 'of ithe' 'flareded'gefi of 'th'e spring member 23 by any suitable means such as the depending flange 27 of the flared edge 25 and the flanged collar 28 fixed to the inner periphery of the bell spring 23. Marginal portions of the top plate 21 may be formed as a depending dust flange 29 which generally overlies the free edge of the sput neck 14. The dust flange 29 may be notched to receive the cam lugs 18 therein when the closure 20 is secured in sealed relation to the opening 11, by means now to be described.

An actuator comprising a sheet metal body 30 includes a rearwardly extending handle or handgrip 31 and a pair of laterally spaced depending ears 32. The free ends of cars 32 are formed to provide forwardly extending cam hooks 33 which are adapted to engage the cam anchors or lugs 18 as will appear presently. The ears 32 are formed with aligned holes 34 in which cranks 35 are journalled. The cranks 35 are the cranked opposite ends of a pivot pin 36 which is pivotally mounted atop the closure 20 by any suitable means such as the bearing 37. In the operation of the device, the closure 20 is moved from the open position of Figure 3 to the lightly closed position indicated in Fig. 2. The actuator handle 31 is now moved in a counterclockwise direction from the solid line position to the broken line position of Figure 2 which causes the cam hooks 33 to engage the cam lugs or anchors 18 lightly. The hook throats or openings 38 are sized to receive the anchors 18 freely and no camming occurs as the actuator moves from the solid line position of Figure 2 to the broken line position. In this latter position of the parts, the cranks 35 have been lowered to about 45,

Continued movement of the actuator handle 31 in the same direction elevates the cranks 35 to and'they then pass over center slightly (Fig. l) to prevent return movement of the parts. The cars 32 have laterally inwardly directed rear portions 39 which engage the top plate 21 just after the cranks 35 pass over center to provide fixed stops preventing further movement of the cranks in a counterclockwise direction.

Meanwhile, as the cranks 35 approach and reach the over-center position the cam or elevates the can hooks 33 therewith whereby to draw the closure 20 and its sealing gasket 24 into a tight sealing engagement with the gasket seat 12. Also, this action flexes the bell spring 23 slightly to provide a seal which is capable of compensating for compression set in the gasket 24. To open the closure 20, it is only necessary to swing the actuator handle 31 in a clockwise direction to the released position indicated in solid lines, Figure 2. Thereafter, the entire closure is free to be swung on the pivot 17 to the open position of Figure 3.

While there has been shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the inven tion, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expression. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the particular structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

The combination with a container wall having an opening therein and fixed anchors on opposite sides of said opening spaced outwardly of said wall; of a closure for said opening, compressible sealing means operatively associated with said closure and opening for sealing the latter, a pivot pin having a center portion and offset opposite end portions providing coaxial cranks parallel to said center portion, means pivotally mounting said center portion on said closure transversely thereof, an actuator,

toggle action thereof means pivotally mounting said actuator on said cranks, said actuator having a pair of laterally spaced hooks fixed thereto, said anchors being located to be freely engaged by said hooks upon pivotal movement in one direction of said actuator on said cranks with said cranks in a lowered position, continued pivotal movement of said actuator in the same direction being operative to elevate said cranks and cam said closure to a sealing position compressing said sealing means, and said cranks being formed and arranged to be over center in said sealing position whereby to be selfv locking in said position.

References Cited in .the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

